I've been pondering that very idea for a while, in fact. I think an incentive for first-runs is a good idea, and potentially less harmful to other events than an outright exclusivity rule would be.

There are some events (mostly foreign) that have rules whereby all submissions must be first-run debuts. I'm not aware of ones at any US events that have such a rule (aside from the AWA Masters, but that's a special and limited case), and there's perhaps only a couple of the larger AMV events in the US that would have enough clout to pull off such a rule without harming their event. If one of them did though, I strongly believe it would be to the detriment of other AMV events.

actually since the only con I have been following has been the IkkiCon, I remembered listening from some assistants complaining that they watched the same video winning in other contest back in august (I guess they meant San Japan) and that during the 2011 contest, several new editors were showing by that time. I heard the idea of an 'award for debutants- Texas local editors only.